Feast non-stop February

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Our official CNY long weekend has just passed, but CNY isn’t technically over yet, and this gives us more reason to treat ourselves and our loved ones to good food. And just because February is the shortest month of the year, that doesn’t mean our rate of feasting is declining anytime.

Besides, Valentine’s Day is approaching so it’s time to start planning your special day with bae - a sumptuous meal is mandatory. Whether you’re opting for a casual day out, or an atas date night, this list of 20 new cafes and restaurants will for sure, help you to score points with the other half!

Cafes

1. Hattendo Singapore

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Even if you’re not a fan of bread, Hattendo is a game-changer. A popular bakery brand from Japan, their deceptively simple-looking buns come in 5 flavours: Custard, Whipped Cream, Matcha, Azuki Beans and Chocolate ($2.50). We’re diggin’ the matcha buns, especially since cheap matcha snacks don’t come by easily.

Devour the soft, fluffy buns when they’re fresh from the oven. A bite sees cream filling oozing out - be careful not to squeeze the bun or things will get messy. Located in Tanjong Pagar Centre with a dine-in concept, this is an alternative to the usual cafe or hawker centre fare for you CBD folks.

3. LeTAO Singapore

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Cheese tarts have finally found themselves a strong contender. LeTAO, also hailing from Hokkaido, has arrived in town with its legendary cheesecake. Famous for their Double Fromage cheesecake ($28, 12cm) directly air-flown from Hokkaido, those who’ve tried it have waxed lyrical about its melt-in-the-mouth texture.

This masterpiece of a cake is made of 3 types of cheese - Italian mascarpone, camembert, and cream cheese. The top layer is light, creamy unbaked cheesecake, while the bottom layer consists of baked cheese. Besides cheesecake, LeTAO also stocks bite-sized snacks like Royale Montagne Chocolate Pieces ($12, 9 pieces).

4. Gohan Cafe by Kacyo

I can never resist anything Japanese - chirashi don in particular. That’s why Gohan Cafe by Kacyo, which offers a plethora of Japanese rice bowls at wallet-friendly prices is particularly attractive. Their bestseller is Barachirashi Bowl ($18), that’s packed with copious amounts of raw fish and salmon roe, served with salad and miso soup.

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Also, check out the Japanese Wagyu Sushi ($38, 5 pieces) here. This is the first time we’re seeing raw beef on rice! Though this dish leans on the pricier side, you should still give it a try for a novel experience.

5. An Acai Affair

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An Acai Affair isn’t just any dessert cafe blindly hopping on the superfoods trend. The 3 owners set up the cafe to raise awareness about the health benefits of acai, and you wouldn’t have guessed they’re only 20-year-olds. #Lifegoals right there.

Their acai bowls and smoothies are served in coconut bowls or cups, and most of you will choose the former for aesthetic photo purposes. Get their signature, Tropical Coconut Bowl ($6.90), where acai and fresh cut fruits are tossed in a young coconut husk. You’ll also get to pick your sauces - honey, cookie sauce or peanut butter - and additional toppings (from $6.90).

6. Salt and Delight

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Not a newbie in the pastry business, the owner and patisserie chef of Salt and Delight has been selling her Entremet cakes (multi-layered mousse cakes) online since 2015. Get a slice of heaven with Matcha Mandarin Orange ($7.50/slice), the crowd favourite here. An exquisite cake made of matcha mousse and mandarin orange gel, this is one refreshing flavour that you don’t come across often.

This multi-talented baker is also a trained barista, so you can look forward to sipping on coffee, and indulging in pretty pastries in this quaint cafe stowed away in an ulu part of Kovan.

7. Marble Bistro

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We daresay that Marble Bistro takes food experimentation to another level. Their attention to detail in every dish is commendable, and it’s no surprise since their chefs hail from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. Deviled Eggs ($8) looks out-of-the-world, even eccentric. This dish isn’t the usual stuffed egg, whereby the egg white is packed with flavoured egg yolk. Instead, the spiced egg yolk is piped into a pesto cone in Marble Bistro’s rendition.

Even their drinks are exotic. Mushroom Macchiato ($6.50) could be easily mistaken for black coffee. Smooth and rich in savory mushroom essence, this cuppa joe’s foamy top coat isn’t just milky foam, but also infused with truffle.

8. Matcha Project

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Located at The Sail @ Marina Bay is Matcha Project, a takeaway cafe which only sells matcha beverages and desserts. For pure matcha indulge, choose from Matcha Shot ($5 / $6.50), Houjicha ($5.50) and Genmaicha ($5.50). But if you prefer milky matcha drinks, then go for Matcha Latte ($5.50).

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They’ve also recently launched Matcha Soft Serve ($5 / $6.50), which is smooth and rich in matcha, yet not cloying. As there’s limited seating in the shop, we wouldn’t mind enjoying the desserts by the sea side, watching the world go by.

9. Pick A Boo

I’m sure we’ve all felt the pinch when paying for expensive meals in Orchard. So when affordable cafe options like Pick A Boo spring up in town, we jump at the chance of dining there. With everything on the menu under $10, give a try at the recommended dishes of Teriyaki Seafood Aglio Olio ($7.30), Dirty Fries ($4.50) and Waffles & Ice Cream ($4.90). Plus, there’s no GST and service charge - more motivation for you to pop by when you’re in town.

10. Yogurtland

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At Yogurtland, relive your childhood as you make multi-coloured art out of swirls of frozen indulgence. With over 200 froyo flavours like Original Tart and Sumatra Coffee, and 33 toppings available, just imagine the crazy number of possibilities! This American froyo chain’s froyo is made of pure Californian milk, is antibiotics-free and gluten-free. Priced according to weight ($3/100g), agar-ation skills will be put to the test here, as you try your best to not spend a bomb.

Restaurants

1. Ippudo X Kuro-Obi

Ordering is super fuss-free at Ippudo’s first takeaway ramen outlet in Asia. First, choose the flavour of your ramen: Kuro-Obi ($12), Cha-Obi ($9), Shiro-Obi ($8) or Aka-Obi ($10). Then decide if you want a soft, normal or hard texture for your noodles. Finally, indicate the intensity of your soup and the amount of oil, and opt for toppings of garlic or onion if you fancy.

For a spicy kick, opt for Aka-Obi ($10). Chicken stock is flavoured with chilli oil, a dollop of hae bee hiam (dried shrimp sambal) and minced meat. All these, coupled with al-dente noodles, makes a comforting bowl of ramen that you can slurp in the comfort of your office, if you dabao back for lunch.

2. MEET

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The punny restaurant name is a confirmation of MEET’s identity as carnivore’s paradise. You can expect glorious meat dishes like Honey Spiced Roasted Chicken ($18), a whole roasted chicken that can easily feed 3 to 4.

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Another sinful meaty dish is Caramelised Miso Pork Belly ($15). Complemented by Granny Smith apple, seed mustard, white onions cooked with sherry vinegar, and honey mustard, this dish is reminiscent of sio bak, only sweeter. But for those who still need their veggies, you can still get your greens from dishes such as French Bean With Garlic ($5).

3. STRAY by Fatcat

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The CNY long weekend has just flown by, but that doesn’t stop us from delighting in more lo hei. Sitting in the heart of town is STRAY by Fatcat by the same folks behind FatCat Ice-cream Bar, who once dominated #sgfoodporn with its charcoal waffles with salted egg yolk sauce.

Continue the CNY festivities with your fam by opting for Yu Sheng Bowl ($20), which puts a contemporary spin on the usual large-plate yusheng. And end off your meal with their Instagrammable desserts, Keep Popping ($12 for 3) that features flavours like Osmanthus with lime mojito and rum, Lychee with rose, Blood Mandarin with Shirazi lemon.

4. Kin Moo

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You ‘eat pork’ at Kin Moo - because that’s what the restaurant name means. The first Thai boat noodles shop in Singapore to offer Baamee Haeng Cha Kang Rao ($7.50) or Thai braised knuckle noodles, you could say their signature is the Thai rendition of Bak Chor Mee.

Another must-try is BaaMee Moo Dang ($6.50) or Thai Wanton Mee, served with pork lard, shallots, fried garlic, as well as plump, juicy wontons.

5. Thirteen Duxton Hill

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Pleasant surprises are always welcome, and Thirteen Duxton Hill knows this for a fact. The menu at this contemporary bistro-bar is switched up daily, depending on what catches the chef’s eye at the local market. And that’s why the menu is handwritten - old-school, yet showcases Melbourne Chef Fiechtner’s creativity.

Get a taste of modern Australian fare when you opt for Corn,Prawn Head Butter & Croissant ($16). Baby corn is doused in fragrant prawn butter sauce, sprinkled with cocoa, and paired with a crispy croissant. If it isn’t on the menu though, try anything else to discover yet another exciting dish whipped up by this innovative chef.

At an affordable price of $13.90 per person (minimum 2 pax), this is the perfect place for cozy gatherings with friends. At the end of your meal, it’s highly recommended that you get fried rice ($5) to soak up all of that thick broth.

7. Atmastel

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Helmed by a head chef from a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant, Atmastel boasts of an open kitchen, pizza bakery, a crudo bar, and a wine retail zone. With a wide offering done Mediterranean style - from salads, to pasta and pizza, you’re in for a feast here.

They have a set lunch option whereby you simply top up $5 to any main to enjoy a choice of salad or soup, plus a cup of homemade iced lemon tea. As for dessert, try Passionfruit Creme Brulee ($12.90), which is a beautiful concoction of custard cream, chocolate soil and passion fruit granite with almond tuile.

8. Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House

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Tok Tok Indonesian Soup House is the place to be when you’re craving for Indonesian street food. A soup specialist, this restaurant serves up belly-warming soups like Soto Betawi ($8.80) or Beef Soup, and Sop Buntut ($9.50) or Oxtail Soup, perfect for chilly rainy days.

9. The Garage

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We’re not surprised at the overarching garden theme in this eatery, since it’s nestled in Botanic Gardens. And interestingly, The Garage’s 2-in-1 concept sees a cafe, Bee’s Knees on level 1, and a restaurant, Botanico on level 2.

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We can’t take our eyes off Lemon Rosemary Tart ($7). Golden-glazed dollops of meringue deck the lemon curd, while rosemary peeks out from above - all of this sitting on a crusty tart. Definitely eye candy material for the Insta-game. Besides desserts, you can also get your mains such as Tiger Prawns Linguine ($18) here.

10. Nanjing Impressions

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Stepping into Nanjing Impressions feels like you’ve just entered an ancient Chinese movie, from the traditional lanterns hanging off the ceiling, to the use of traditional Chinese cutlery. Ranked among the top 10 restaurants in various parts of China, this is the restaurant’s first foray into Singapore

Some of its signatures include Jinling Noodles in Light Soy Broth ($6.80), and Steamed Glutinous Rice with Pork ($13.80). Be sure to ask for their super shiok chilli oil sauce to go with your dishes, because you won’t find it on the table.

Don’t go without ordering Baby Rooster Stew with Special Sauce served with Crispy Sesame Bun ($23.80). Well-marinated chunks of chicken sit on a bed of piping hot soy sauce, served with crispy sesame buns resembling you tiao. Go ahead and mop up all of that savory sauce with the buns.

February, Fed-bruary, Fat-bruary?

With that food baby carried over from stuffing our faces with pineapple tarts during CNY, we begin to wonder if this life of eternal gluttony is getting out of hand. But then again, it doesn’t hurt to treat ourselves from time to time.

Plus, the thrill of stumbling upon new, delectable grub is what makes life worth the living. So go on and eat all you want, but remember to stick to your New Year resolution of exercising regularly. You’ll be safe that way.